New Delhi, Jan 11 (News 18) : Mounting criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that PM Modi was dreaming when he thought he could make India a cashless economy.

Rahul, while taking a dig at PM Modi, uttered 'Mitron' a term PM uses often in his addresses to a cheering audience at Talkatora stadium.

"Congress workers must go to villages and tell people how BJP and RSS are destroying the country by spreading fear and hatred, he said, adding, "BJP thinks that they can rule this country with fear and hatred... but we will defeat and remove them.”

"We will defeat their ideas and philosophy," he said.

In his scathing criticism of Modi government, Rahul took potshots at BJP leaders Janardhan Reddy and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, alleging they spent crores on their daughters' weddings even as the common man suffered severely under cash crunch.

Implying some people were in the know of the demonetisation move, Rahul said: "Bengal BJP was depositing money in banks before PM's demonetisation speech... BJP was investing in properties across the country before demonetisation."

Rahul also highlighted corruption that came to light during the 50-day period sought by PM to end the cash crunch. "How many corrupt were spotted in the ATM lines? They were all using back doors to access banks," he said.

Earlier in the day, Rahul had alleged that after demonetisation PM Modi is hiding behind "home-made economists" like Baba Ramdev and Mohan Bhagwat.

Tearing into PM's various schemes and initiatives, Rahul had said: "The PM can do yoga very well, but have you noticed he cannot do the padmasana (lotus position)? I notice these things. Similarly, when he went with a broom to talk about cleaning up India, did you see how he was holding the broom? Nothing gets cleaned if you hold the broom like that."

Earlier :

Modi weakened RBI, ‘acche din’ only when Congress comes to power: Rahul

New Delhi, Jan 11 (Agencies) : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of weakening institutions like the Reserve Bank on India (RBI).

“BJP, RSS and Narendra Modi have weakened institutions like RBI. People of country are wondering when are 'Acche din going to come'. I'll tell them it will come when Congress comes to power again,” said Rahul Gandhi addressing the Congress National Convention in the national capital.

He continued his attack on the PM and said that demonetisation was a ‘personal decision’ made by Modi.

“Today I read in newspaper that PM said he will transform India. But PM needs to ask himself why suddenly auto sales have fallen.”

Quoting figures, Rahul said automobiles sale has dropped by 60% in the country. "We have gone back 16 years, the backbone of India's economy has been broken" he added.

Rahul has just returned from a week-long foreign vacation, for which he was criticised as five states are going to the polls.